On
June 14, 2003, the SPARC program held the first of two workshops
for science teachers to introduce the principles of “green
chemistry” to the high-school curriculum. Supported by the
grant Buying Green for Chemistry from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, the Safe Labs Workshop described how to replace the materials
and exercises traditionally used in high school chemistry labs
with alternative chemicals and chemical processes that have fewer
adverse environmental impacts.
The goal of the workshop is to show high school teachers ways
to raise the awareness of their students about pollution reduction
strategies as a means to promote healthy environments.
The workshop was presented by James M. Gibbs and Zenaida Cobian
in the chemistry laboratory at Dr. C.E. Brimm Medical Arts High
School in Camden. Mr. Gibbs and Ms. Cobian explained the history
and goals of green chemistry and described the new curriculum
they had developed as part of the grant. The participating teachers
then did one of the laboratory activities in this curriculum to
get a “hands-on” understanding of how green chemistry
can be applied in the high school curriculum. In this instance,
the laboratory activity not only eliminated the need for any toxic
chemicals but also allowed the materials to be reused. Thus, the
lab makes both environmental and economic sense.
The workshop
provoked considerable discussion among the participating teachers
about other ways to incorporate green chemistry into school activities,
and the project anticipates that the initiative will stimulate
such discussion among students.
Additional workshops will be held in the upcoming school years,
and anyone interested in participating should contact the SPARC
office for more information (856-225-6334). Information about
green chemistry for the precollege school environment is also
available from SPARC. A pdf version of the Green Chemistry laboratory
exercises will be available soon.
On
June 14, 2003, the SPARC program held the first of two workshops
for science teachers to introduce the principles of “green
chemistry” to the high-school curriculum. Supported by the
grant Buying Green for Chemistry from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, the Safe Labs Workshop described how to replace the materials
and exercises traditionally used in high school chemistry labs
with alternative chemicals and chemical processes that have fewer
adverse environmental impacts. 
The workshop was presented by James M. Gibbs and Zenaida Cobian
in the chemistry laboratory at Dr. C.E. Brimm Medical Arts High
School in Camden. Mr. Gibbs and Ms. Cobian explained the history
and goals of green chemistry and described the new curriculum
they had developed as part of the grant. The participating teachers
then did one of the laboratory activities in this curriculum to
get a “hands-on” understanding of how green chemistry
can be applied in the high school curriculum. In this instance,
the laboratory activity not only eliminated the need for any toxic
chemicals but also allowed the materials to be reused. Thus, the
lab makes both environmental and economic sense.
